Car-seal.



iRQALLAGER.

GAR SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1910.

990,540, Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

mom L 50; Jajzzewf aZ/ay/er rI-u: NORRIS EBTERS cm; umsmmarmv n. c.

JAMES P. GALLAGIER, OF MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA.

CAB-SEAL.

Application filed June 15, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES P. GALLAGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Muskogee, in the county of Muskogee and State of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Seals, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to car seals, and one of the principal objects ofthe invention is to provide a simple, reliable and efiicient selflocking car seal to be made of a single niece of sheet-metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self locking seal foruse on freight car doors and other purposes, which cannot be opened oroperated after it has been locked without indicating the fact that theseal has been tampered with.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a self locking carseal made from a single piece of sheet metal and in which the lockingelements of the seal extend entirely across the casing which receivesthe end of the shackle or strap, thus providing a more substantial andsecure seal than those provided with the usual stamped up lookingtongues, which are liable to be broken off in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single piece car seal tobe stamped and bent up from sheet metal and assembled without the use ofsolder or other extraneous means.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the self locking car seal made inaccordance with my invention, a portion of one side of the casing beingbroken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the casing in longitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the seal inlocked position. Fig. 41- is a transverse sectional view on the line 4l4of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View takenon the line 66 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank before it is bent up to formthe car seal.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the strap or shackleof the seal which is adapted to be bent upon itself and Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Seria1 No. 566,956.

to be adjusted through the staples on the car door and car frame. Thefree end of the shackle 1 is bent upon itself at 2, to provide anoutwardly extending portion 8. The terminal end of the shackle or strapis bent inwardly, as at 4: to form a locking hook. The casing to receivethe locking end of the shackle is formed integral with said strap orshackle 1 and comprises a rectangular casing consisting of a side 5, abottom 6, a side 7 and a top 8. From the top 8 an outwardly extendingbent portion 9 is formed and the edge of the side 5 is bent over saidprojecting portion 9 as at 10, thus inclosing the casing at the sides,top and bottom without the use of solder, wing to the manner of bendingthe sheet metal. From the bent portion 9 the metal is bent inwardlyparallel with the side 5, as at 11, and from thence inwardly to form aninterior member 12, provided with an outwardly extending integral hook13 which extends entirely across the casing. The outer end of the member12 is bent upon itself as at 14;, and a curved longitudinal spring 15extends from the bend 14.- to the outer end of the case where saidspringmember 15 is bent downward, as at 16, to bear against the inner wall ofthe bottom 6. The outer end of the casing is closed by means of thecompound bend 17 formed by bending the metal, as shown more clearly inFigs. 2 and 8. At the outer end of the casing the terminal end of thebottom 6 is bent upward, as at 18, against the portion 14 and an openingfor the shackle is provided at 19.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows: Afterthe shackle 1 has been engaged with the staples the bent portion 2 isinserted in the opening 19 and pushed inward until the bent portion apasses beyond the bend b when the portion 3 will spring downward againstthe spring 15 and permit the bend a to enter the space 0. When theshackle is drawn outward the hook A springs into the space d and fromthis position the shackle cannot be withdrawn from the casing withoutmutilating the parts. Should the shackle be pushed inward the end of thehook 1 would ride in the space (Z and cannot be pulled outward withoutentirely destroying the casing or shackle.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a car seal made in accordancewith my invention, cannot be opened after it is sealed by any implementwithout mutilating the shackle or casing. It Will also be obvious thatthe hooks or engaging members of the shackle and casing extend entirelyacross the shackle and casing and cannot be readily broken off. Thelocking of the parts is rendered particularly secure for the reason thatan implement to unlock the same Would be required to pierce the metal inorder to get at the locking members, since they are confined Within aplurality of layers of metal extend ing the full Width of the casing.

My invention is of simple construction, can be made at low cost, isreliable and eflicient in use, and cannot be unlocked or tampered With,Without detection.

I claim:

1. A car seal made from a single piece of sheet metal bent to form acasing having an opening therein, a curved integral spring, and anintegral hook having its terminal end extended toward the opening insaid casing,

and a shackle having a reversely bent hook on its terminal end forengaging the hook in the casing.

2. A car seal made from a single piece of sheet metal and provided Witha casing at one end, said casing having an integral curved spring and anintegral hook bearing upon said spring at its terminal end, said casinghaving an opening therein to admit the locking end of the shackle, ashackle having a hook bent against the shackle and extending in oppositedirection to the hook Within the caslng, said hooks extending entirelyacross the Width of the casing and shackle. V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES P. GALLAGER.

Witnesses:

W. F. SciIUER MEYER, W. Y. DILLEY. v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

